Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated on July 30 while in Tehran to attend the inauguration of the Iranian President, raising the risk of a widespread conflict in the Middle East. (Source: Reuters)

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.

Asia-Pacific

*China unexpectedly replaces commander of South China Sea surveillance zone: China has appointed a new military commander for its southern region - a surprise move that comes after recent clashes in the South China Sea have increased tensions with the US and its allies in the region.

Chinese state media reported on July 31 that General Wu Yanan has been appointed commander of the Southern Theater Command. The Southern Theater Command oversees military strategy in the South China Sea. Wu replaces the previous commander, 60-year-old Wang Xiubin.

No official reason was given for Wang Xiubin’s departure, nor what his next steps will be. Wang Xiubin was first revealed as head of the Southern Theater Command in July 2021, when he was promoted to general. His last public appearance in that capacity was in April 2024, when he met with visiting French officials. (Bloomberg)

*India summons Sri Lankan ambassador to protest collision at sea: The Indian Ministry of External Affairs on August 1 summoned the Sri Lankan ambassador to protest the collision between an Indian fishing boat and a Sri Lankan navy ship that left one fisherman dead and another missing.

The collision occurred five nautical miles north of Katchatheevu, an island disputed between India and Sri Lanka. In a statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said New Delhi has always stressed the need to resolve issues related to fishermen in a humane manner.

For his part, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said Colombo did not want the issue to escalate and was looking to work with New Delhi to find a solution. (Reuters)

*South Korea, US conduct simulated drill integrating nuclear and conventional capabilities: South Korean officials confirmed on August 1 that South Korea and the United States this week held their first simulated drill integrating Seoul's conventional military capabilities with Washington's nuclear capabilities.

The three-day “Iron Mace 24” exercise, which ended on the morning of August 1 at Camp Humphreys of the US Forces Korea (USFK) in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul, was held after the two countries signed a joint nuclear deterrence guideline last month. Extended deterrence refers to the US commitment to defend its allies with the full range of military capabilities, including nuclear weapons.

The drill comes as Pyongyang steps up its ballistic missile programs to bolster its nuclear weapons capability. (Yonhap)

*Russia conducts military exercises on disputed islands with Japan: On August 1, Interfax news agency quoted a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry saying that the country's missile force conducted exercises on Matua Island in the Kuril Islands, which are disputed with Japan (Tokyo calls them the Northern Territories).

The soldiers practiced moving and camouflaging their vehicles on Matua Island, the statement said. The Soviet Union seized four islands off Japan’s Hokkaido at the end of World War II and they remain under Moscow’s control. The dispute over the islands has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty. (Reuters)

*North Korea wants to resume nuclear talks with the Trump administration: Reuters reported on July 31 that in case Donald Trump wins the US presidential election, North Korea plans to resume nuclear talks with the Trump administration.

The information was released after an interview with a senior North Korean diplomat who recently defected to South Korea, Ri Il Gyu. According to him, North Korea has identified relations with Russia, the United States and Japan as its foreign policy priorities in the coming years. Mr. Ri explained that North Korean diplomats are counting on resuming talks on the nuclear program to lift sanctions and receive economic support.

South Korea warned on July 29 that North Korea could test a nuclear weapon before the US election. The last time North Korea tested a nuclear weapon was in September 2017. (Reuters)

Europe

*Moldova summons ambassador, expels Russian diplomat: Moldova's Foreign Ministry said on August 1 that it had expelled one diplomat and summoned the Russian Ambassador to hand over an official note of protest after Moldovan law enforcement agencies arrested two officials on charges of treason and collusion with foreign countries.

A Moldovan security source confirmed that two suspects were arrested on July 30 on suspicion of providing information to the Russian Deputy Defense Attaché in Chisinau, the Moldovan capital. (Reuters)

*Russia leaves open all possibilities for cooperation in resolving the Ukraine crisis: Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow is ready to cooperate with all parties seeking to create conditions for resolving the crisis in Ukraine, taking into account Russia's interests and current realities.

Commenting on the recent visit of Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin to Ukraine, Zakharova noted that his statements were generally in line with the Vatican's mediation efforts. "...Our country is ready to cooperate with all those who seek to create conditions for a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, taking into account Russia's interests and current developments," Zakharova said. (Sputnik)

*The Netherlands transfers 6 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine: The British newspaper The Times quoted a source saying that the Netherlands has transferred 6 fourth-generation F-16 light multi-role fighters to Ukraine.

According to The Times , in addition to these 6 fighter jets, Kiev will soon receive a batch of F-16s from the Danish government. Earlier, the Telegraph also reported that the Ukrainian armed forces had made their first flight on F-16 fighter jets.

The photo, posted on the Telegram channel “Military Informer,” is also evidence that the F-16 fighter jets, which the West promised to deliver to Ukraine, have indeed arrived on the country’s territory. (AFP)

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*Poland launches security operation on border with Belarus: Poland has started the “Podlaskie safe” operation on the border with Belarus, under which Warsaw will mobilize additional military forces and military equipment to protect the border.

Polish Defense Minister Vladislav Kosinyak-Kamysh said that responsibility for the operation rested with the 18th Mechanized Division. He said that the situation on the border between Poland and Belarus had recently worsened. At the same time, on August 1, Poland began an operation codenamed “Aerial Dawn” to strengthen air defenses on its eastern border.

In mid-2021, thousands of migrants poured into the Polish-Belarusian border in the hope of reaching EU countries. Since then, hundreds of illegal immigrants have been trying to cross the border into Poland every month. The country's authorities have tightened border security, deployed troops and cracked down on illegal immigration attempts, blaming Minsk for the migration crisis. (Sputnik)

*Ukraine does not want China to act as a mediator in the conflict with Russia: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 31 that Kiev does not want China to act as a mediator in the conflict with Russia, but hopes that Beijing will put more pressure on Moscow to end the war.

“If China wants, China can force Russia to end this war. I don’t want China to act as a mediator. I want China to put pressure on Russia to end the war,” Zelensky said. “Just like the United States and the European Union are putting pressure on Russia, the more influence a country has, the more pressure it should put on Russia.” (Reuters)

*Russia ready to shoot down Ukrainian F-16 fighter jets: The Kremlin announced on August 1 that Russian forces were ready to shoot down the first batch of F-16 fighter jets that the Netherlands had just delivered to Ukraine, while affirming that this type of fighter jet would not be a "panacea" for Kiev's army.

Earlier, on July 31, Lithuanian and US officials confirmed that Ukraine had received the first F-16 fighter jets, equipped with 20 mm cannons and capable of carrying bombs, rockets, and missiles. (TASS)

Middle East – Africa

*UNSC holds emergency meeting due to escalating tensions in the Middle East: On the afternoon of July 31 (New York time), the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held an emergency meeting to discuss the dangerous escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

The meeting was requested by Iran and supported by Russia, China and Algeria. At the meeting, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo reaffirmed the urgent need to de-escalate regional tensions and urged the UN’s most powerful body to “take swift and effective diplomatic action.”

The UN Security Council convened a meeting as the Middle East faces a new escalation of tensions after Israel launched an airstrike on Lebanon's capital Beirut and a senior Hamas leader was assassinated in Iran. (Al Jazeera)

*China hopes for early establishment of independent Palestinian state: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on August 1 that China hopes Palestinian factions can establish an independent state as soon as possible.

Responding to a question about the assassination of the Hamas leader in Iran, Mr. Lam Kien expressed: "China earnestly hopes that all Palestinian factions, on the basis of internal reconciliation, will establish an independent Palestinian state as soon as possible." (Al Jazeera)

*Iran asserts its right to respond to Israel legally: Iran's Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani on August 1 held a phone call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss bilateral relations and the latest developments related to the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

During the phone call, Iran's top diplomat stated: "In violation of the territorial integrity and national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Zionist regime assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh." According to Mr. Kani, Israel's actions are contrary to international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter. Iran's acting foreign minister stressed that Tehran has the legal right to respond decisively and proportionately.

For his part, the Turkish Foreign Minister condemned the assassination of the Hamas leader as a blatant violation of Iran's red lines and territorial integrity, and affirmed that Ankara will do its utmost to support Tehran's legitimate initiative. (Mehrnews)

*US calls on Middle East parties to end escalation: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on August 1 called on “all parties” in the Middle East to end “escalatory actions” and reach a ceasefire in Gaza, after Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an attack that Iran blamed on Israel.

Speaking to reporters in Mongolia, Mr. Blinken said that achieving peace “starts with a ceasefire, and to successfully achieve that goal, it first requires all parties to negotiate (and) stop taking any escalatory actions.”

Earlier, on July 31, Secretary of State Blinken affirmed that the US was not involved in the assassination of Mr. Haniyeh. The Hamas political leader was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his residence in Tehran, when he attended the inauguration of Iranian President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian. (AFP)

*Israeli Prime Minister determined not to stop the campaign in Gaza: Speaking on July 31, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized: "Over the past months, we have continuously received calls from within and outside the country to end the war... I have not listened to those calls before and I will not listen to them today."

Prime Minister Netanyahu also warned the people of the "difficult days" ahead. Mr. Netanyahu declared: "We are ready for any scenario, we will face any threat united and resolute."

The statement came after Israel carried out airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs and the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Hamas blamed Israel and the United States for Haniyeh's death and vowed not to let the attack go unanswered. (Spuntiknews)

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*Iran, regional allies discuss retaliation against Israel: Five sources familiar with the matter said senior Iranian officials met with representatives of the country's regional allies from Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen on August 1 to discuss possible retaliation against Israel, following Israel's assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

The Middle East is facing the risk of increased conflict between Israel, Iran and their proxies following the assassination of Mr Haniyeh in Tehran on 31 July and the killing of a senior commander of the Hezbollah movement on 30 July in an Israeli strike on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital Beirut. (Al Jazeera)

America-Latin America

*Prison riot in Nevada, USA: Prison officials in the US state of Nevada said a riot at a high-security prison in the state left three inmates dead and nine others hospitalized.

According to the source, the riot occurred on the afternoon of July 30 (local time) at the maximum security Ely prison in the town about 400 km north of Las Vegas. The Nevada Governor's Office said the riot was related to gang violence. No correctional officers were injured in the riot. Ely prison officials said the prison was locked down after the incident.

Ely Prison can hold a maximum of 1,183 inmates and has more than 400 staff. (Reuters)

*US, EU hold urgent meeting after assassination of Hamas leader: The Financial Times reported that US and EU diplomats held urgent meetings in the Middle East to prevent the risk of all-out war after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Politburo of the Palestinian Hamas movement.

The meetings were aimed at convincing Iran not to retaliate against Israel or take symbolic actions, the sources said.

Earlier on July 31, the Palestinian Hamas movement announced the death of Mr. Haniyeh, head of the movement's Politburo, due to an Israeli attack on his residence in Tehran. Hamas accused Israel and the US of being the culprits in Mr. Haniyeh's murder and vowed to respond to this attack. (FT)

*Venezuelan police "surround" the Argentine Embassy in Caracas: On July 31, Argentine press reported that Venezuelan police are currently "surrounding" the Argentine Embassy in the capital Caracas.

This is the second time Venezuelan police have surrounded the headquarters of the Argentine representative agency in Caracas after cutting off the building's electricity on July 29. It is expected that on August 1, all Argentine diplomatic staff in Venezuela and six Venezuelan citizens who have been granted asylum by Buenos Aires and have been staying at the embassy since late March will leave Caracas.

Currently, the Argentine Embassy has only 8 staff. The Argentine ambassador left Caracas after the government of President Javier Milei denounced fraud in the July 28 election in Venezuela and did not recognize the results with the victory of President Nicolás Maduro. Immediately, the Venezuelan government asked Argentine diplomatic staff to leave Venezuela within 72 hours. (AFP)